Cuddalore, Dec 24 (NationPress) A tragic incident unfolded as at least nine individuals lost their lives and numerous others were injured when a State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) bus en route from Tiruchy to Chennai was involved in a catastrophic accident near Ezhuthur in Cuddalore district on Wednesday night.

The collision took place on the bustling Chennai-Tiruchy National Highway, leading to significant traffic delays for several hours.

As per police reports, the bus’s front tyre exploded while navigating through the Ezhuthur region, resulting in the driver losing control.

The vehicle initially crashed into the central median, breaching the barrier, and subsequently veered into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with two cars approaching from the opposite direction.

The destruction was severe; seven of the deceased were passengers in the two cars, both of which were left unrecognizable.

Numerous others suffered serious injuries and were rushed to local hospitals. Tragically, two of the injured later succumbed, raising the death count to nine. Authorities confirmed that the victims included four men, four women, and a child. Four additional individuals remain in critical condition and are receiving intensive care.

Due to the extent of the devastation, identifying some victims was initially challenging.

Further investigations revealed that one of the vehicles was carrying Rajarathinam (69), a jeweler from Karur, his spouse Rajeswari (57), and their chauffeur Jayakumar (45), all of whom perished.

The second car included Mubarack and Taj Birka, residents of Pudukkottai district.

Another victim, Sirajuddin, was reportedly returning from Chennai airport after bidding farewell to a relative traveling to Canada when the incident transpired.

Upon receiving the alert, police promptly arrived at the scene to conduct rescue operations and recover bodies from the wreckage. The injured were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

This incident resulted in extensive damage to the median and vehicles, causing significant traffic congestion on the Chennai-Tiruchy National Highway, with normal traffic flow only resuming after several hours.

The accident is part of a worrying trend of recent deadly road incidents across Tamil Nadu, especially on national highways.

Authorities have filed a case and initiated an investigation to ascertain the precise cause of the crash, reiterating the need for regular vehicle inspections and stringent adherence to road safety regulations.